Gear Manufacturer Finds Savings

The company actually exports to China. As part of its sustainability and competitiveness programs, the company installed a bank of power conditioners to service the electrical requirements of the machines, which saved 20 percent on the electric bill.

Other sustainable initiatives include:

• Changed lighting system from T-12 to T-8 using 25, 28, and 32 watt lamps. 
• Tinted windows with low-Emissivity film 
• Replaced several heating/air-conditioning units with highenergy efficient units 
• Installed programmable thermostats throughout the building
• Replaced less efficient air compressors with larger more efficient units 
• Installed Oberland oil filtrate/cooling unit for gear grinding,using outside air for chilling the oil any time ambient air temperature is 50 F or below
• Turn off lights during lunch period
• Turn on/off lights as required for bathrooms, lunch room, conference room and warehouse 
• On weekends and major shutdowns, adjust heat/air to minimum needed 
• Regularly check for compressed air leaks 
• Implemented and follow the principles of Lean Manufacturing
• Spin oil out of chips to recycle 
• Reuse most all received packaging dunnage, except for Styrofoam
• peanuts, which are recycled locally
• Eliminated bottled waterservice for drinking and now used filtered tapwater